Bangladesh’s interim government adviser says an election may be held next year after completion of all preparations

Bangladesh may vote to elect new government next year, announces interim government's Law Adviser
Bangladesh witnessed massive protests this year which led to the fall of the former Sheikh Hasina-led government.Photo Courtesy:   Wikimedia Commons/Creative Common license version 4.0 (CC 4.0)/Rownak Shahriar Ruhan

Bangladesh’s Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has said the next Parliamentary election in the country may take place in 2025 after the completion of preparations which include forming the new Election Commission through a search committee.

“Realistically, I think the election could be held by next year,” he told Channel 1 as quoted by The Daily Star.

He said if India adheres to the extradition treaty then the country should return Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh.

“If India interprets the law honestly, it must repatriate Hasina,” he said.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday issued an arrest warrant against former PM Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India after fleeing the country, for her alleged role in crimes against humanity and genocide during the July-August uprising.

This is the first time an arrest warrant was issued against the longest serving PM of the country since the fall of her government on August 5.

The tribunal also issued arrest warrants against 45 others including Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

The three-member tribunal, led by its chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, issued the warrants after the prosecution filed two petitions, reported The Daily Star.

Bangladesh witnessed massive protests, which initially began over a job quota row, and then spiralled into a mass movement that led to the fall of Hasina’s regime.

She had returned to power for another term after registering a strong victory in the polls earlier this year.

The protests witnessed by the South Asian nation were the deadliest seen since independence in 1971.

Following Hasina’s escape to India, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus took charge of the government.